Project 10073 Record — Detroit, Michigan, March 5, 1967

On March 5, 1967, at approximately 7:27 PM, eight civilians in two different locations in Westland, Michigan, reported observing three unidentified objects in the sky. The witnesses described the objects as resembling baseballs in size, appearing yellow and varying from bright to dull. The objects were observed in a reverse triangular formation, moving in a south-easterly direction before turning south. Witnesses reported that the objects changed speed, performed banking turns, and that one object left a trail. Additionally, some witnesses noted that the objects appeared to be dropping sparks or flames. The sighting lasted approximately four to five minutes. The City of Westland Police Department investigated the reports and forwarded their findings to the 1st Fighter Wing at Selfridge AFB. In their correspondence, the police noted that a Lake Central Airlines plane had crashed approximately 50 miles south of the sighting location around 8:00 PM that same evening. The investigating officers suggested that the witnesses might have observed the aircraft that crashed, noting that initial reports indicated the aircraft had exploded before the crash. The official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 form for this incident is 'BALLOON'.